Wayne Rooney ‘favours Manchester City over Chelsea or Real Madrid’

Wayne Rooney has told his Old Trafford team-mates he is targeting a move to Manchester City in the January transfer window.

The Manchester United striker, who is said to have fallen out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson , is prepared to follow Carlos Tevez in moving across Manchester to Eastlands, rather than seek a transfer to Barcelona, Chelsea or Real Madrid, according to reports.

Wayne Rooney could be on his way to Manchester City (PA)

Rooney, who has endured a torrid spell of form and has faced accusations over his private life, has informed his employers that he has no intention of extending his contract, which runs out in 2012.

It is thought Manchester City’s billionaire owners are prepared to pay the England striker £230,000 a week to make him the highest earner in the Premier League.

Team-mates also believe Rooney’s demands are purely about money, rather than the breakdown of his relationship with Ferguson, while wife Coleen has told her husband she does not want to move abroad.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti hinted he would consider signing the former Everton man if he became available, but stated that ‘not just Chelsea would be interested’.

Furthermore, under Fifa’s Webster ruling, the star could buy out the last year of his deal at Old Trafford for as little as £5million, leaving United with the decision of whether to cash in or potentially lose out on a massive windfall.